Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut with Apples

"The apple and onion together work magic on this classic dish. This is traditionally served on New Year's Day in Central Pennsylvania. It is customarily served with mashed potatoes. The sauerkraut mixture tops the mashed potatoes like a gravy. Surprisingly good."

Footnotes

I was concerned that this might turn out bland, so I used a combination of beef broth and beer in place of the water. I used caraway seeds which the recipe author says could be substituted for fennel (I typically only use fennel seed in Italian dishes). First, I wouldn’t add “water to cover” because I ended up with way too much liquid at the end. The pork chops ended up being very tender and moist, but the apples pretty much cooked to mush, and the sauerkraut just didn’t have much flavor. Overall, this meal was OK, but a bit bland. My friend’s sauerkraut recipe calls for juniper berries, whole cloves, and a bay leaf which bring incredible flavor to the kraut, and I’ll never again make sauerkraut without them. As suggested, I did serve this with mashed potatoes on the side .

I used a combination of "fancy cut" and chopped sauerkraut. Also, as I was only making 3 chops I had to adjust the recipe accordingly. However, the chops turned out so tender the meat was practically falling off the bone :) I used 1 honeycrisp and 1 gala apple and that did a good job of cutting down on the acidity of the sauerkraut. However, next time I think I'm going to use more fennel and use 3 apples for 3 chops instead of two.

Because there is just two of us I had to cut the recipe in half. I also used caraway seeds instead of the fennel. I also left the skins on the apples and I can't believe how this tasted. If you are afraid of the taste of sauerkraut, don't be; it was great. Lots of juice left so we scooped out the meat and veggies with a slotted spoon.

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.